NHTSA Complaint #11385464 — 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER

SEVERE SUSPENSION BRACKET RUST ON MULTIPLE REAR AND FRONT COMPONENTS. I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WHEN BRAKING BUT MY ENTIRE CAR SWAYED WHEN THE REAR LATERAL SUPPORT BAR BRACKET BROKE RIGHT OFF THE MOUNT THAT IS WELDED TO THE REAR DUE TO RUST. I THEN INSPECTED AND FOUND MULTIPLE RUST AREAS ON FRAME AND OTHER SUSPENSION BRACKETS. MAKING THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM AWARE OF TOYOTA'S ONGOING DILEMMA WITH USING THIS HORRIBLE UNTREATED STEEL AND HOPE THE NHTSA ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL CORROSION THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE NEGLECT IN SAFETY BY NOT HAVING THIS STEEL TREATED ON SUCH CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF A VEHICLES FRAME. HAD THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH OR GREATER. SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH CAN OCCUR. IF I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER HAVING THIS ISSUE ON TOYOTA FJ CRUSIER VEHICLES. I HOPE THE NHTSA ENFORCES A RECAL ON THESE FRAMES AND/OR CRITICAL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. MY VEHICLE IS 16 YEARS OLD, I PURCHASED IT FROM A DEALER WHOM RECIEVED IT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 57,000 MILES ON IT. NOW CURRENTLY AFTER 4 YEARS OF OWNING THIS FJ CRUISER I ONLY HAVE 71,000 MILES ON IT. HAD THIS BRACKET CAUGHT ONTO MY BRAKE LINES WHICH IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THIS REAR BRACKET I WOULD HAVE LOST ALL ABILITY TO STOP MY VEHICLE.